Jeremiah's calling from God...
As mentioned in the intro post, Jeremiah was a Benjamin priest from a village just a few miles north of Jerusalem. This village, Anathoth, was one of the cities assigned to the Levites, according to MacArthur (Joshua 21:18)
He was called by God in the 13th year of Josiah. For context on timing. Josiah became king at 8 years old. In the 8th year (16) of his 31 year reign (39) he began to seek the Lord. But it wasn't until his 18th year (26) that the law was discovered and reforms began in earnest. So, Jeremiah being called in the 13th year was while young Josiah was learning and seeking; but before the actual law was discovered. Ryrie notes the 13th year of Josiah as 627 BC. However, Wiersbe points out that, although he was called during good King Josiah's reign, he was born and raised, partly, under Manasseh and Amon- both very evil men. So he had a good sense of Judah's spiritual standing, despite good Josiah's influence.
Verse 3 tells us that his ministry continued through Josiah's sons, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah--so at least through 586 BC. Ryrie and MacArthur suggest he might have served even past that into Judah's first governor.
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1: 4-5, ESV, biblegateway.com
This is one of those verses you can contemplate for a long time. There's a lot there.
- We are who we are even before we are formed in the womb.
- God forms us in the womb.
- It would be difficult to advocate for abortion to the Lord as He is the only one who can spark life in our biological process. If you doubt that, chat with a couple struggling with infertility.
- Jeremiah was consecrated, set apart, for the work he has coming. Which sounds lofty and important until we see all that is asked of him.
- Jeremiah primarily prophesies to Judah in his time; but we see in the last line that his work will actually be spoken to the nations in the fullness of time. We just don't know where the work of our hands will culminate when used by the Lord.
I just wanted to include a New Testament passage with a similar message for all of us:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10, ESV
We are each a unique poem, formed and created by God, with specific works to do- if we choose to walk in them. Sampson proved that Jeremiah could have opted out. Although he was consecrated, he could have rejected the way created for him. It's important to remember that.
Jeremiah proves my point in verse 6 with his immediate response to the Lord's calling: I can't speak! I'm too young! Does this sound familiar? It reminds me exactly of Moses and his response to the Lord.
And as with Moses, God is having none of it. He says,I am the one sending. I am the one speaking. You're just doing the going and the words...Don't be afraid. I've got this! (My paraphrase, of course.)
There's the "Do not be afraid". As I've written elsewhere, I understand that this phrase is in every book of the Bible.
And then we see the actual calling in verses 9 and 10:
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:9-10, ESV
It's important to note that Jeremiah has been given one of the many gifts of the Spirit. But all believers have been given one. So even though this isn't our calling; we all do have one. Designed and powered by God; if we choose to submit and walk in it.
And notice that part of Jeremiah's ministry was to break and destroy as well as plant and build. We can't be afraid of taking a fight to the world, if it has been ordained by God. Not everything in the world should be treated the same. Jesus had harsh words for those who needed tough love if they were to change in time. Some did and some did not.
10.2.24
After Jeremiah is clearly called by God in verses 5-10, God starts His ministry in Jeremiah. The first message is one from a loving Father in verses 11-12:
11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
The Lord gives Jeremiah a vision and verifies to Jeremiah that the message is from Him. The Hebrew word for almond is shaqed and the Hebrew word for watching is shoqed. So God confirmed, poetically that He would be watching over Jeremiah. Similarly, in our day, maybe it would have been a vision of a watch. Watch and watching. This is a very loving and comforting thought until you think about...why am I going to need God watching over me? Sorry, Jeremiah, it's going to be a bumpy ride.Next, we get to the heart of the matter. Training camp is over, prophet time is starting. Starting in verse 13 Jeremiah gets his next vision--that of a boiling pot from the north. The Lord let's Jeremiah know what's coming--"Out of the north the evil will break forth on all of the inhabitants of the land." Babylon is coming and it's bringing hell with it.
In verse 15 He makes it clear that He is the one calling these people to Jerusalem to set up their throne. Giving over His people to the people from the north.
God is longsuffering. Until He's not.
In verse 16, God reminds them why, their wickedness, their forsaking, their idols, the work of their own hands.
And then in verse 17, He sends Jeremiah out. "Gird your loins and get goin'!" (my paraphrase) Then He commands Jeremiah to speak His words and to not be dismayed.
And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1: 18-19, ESV
Part of me thinks it is so cool that the Lord would be so hands on and reassuring, until I remember why that was necessary. Bad days are coming for poor Jeremiah. But the Lord has made him a fortified city. He's bulletproof, but it's because bullets are in the forecast.
He equips us for the journeys of His design. And we're immortal until the work He has for us is done. We have to walk in those works, as stated in Ephesians 2:10. No one wants to be a Sampson. But if we do what is asked of us; God will be watching and we will be a fortified city.